Saints Capitalize on Early Miscues and Sweep RailCats
May 23, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
ST. PAUL, MN- The St. Paul Saints scored nine runs in the first four innings and held on to complete the sweep of the Gary South Shore RailCats. The trends throughout the series of the Saints (4-0) scoring early in the game and putting up big innings continued, preventing the RailCats (0-4) from getting their first win of the season.
RailCats starting pitcher Travis McGee struggled out of the gate, giving up three first inning runs. Things went from bad to worse for McGee and the Cats in the fourth when the Saints used a pair of home runs to put up six runs and bring the score to 9-0. McGee went 3.2 innings giving up six hits, eight earned runs, and five walks. Saints starter John Straka got the win going 5.1 innings with 6 hits, four earned runs, and six strikeouts.
The Saints went to work in the first inning, just like they did in the previous two contests. Two singles put runners on the corners with nobody out. Breland Almadova took off for second base and beat the Jose Gonzalez throw. Meanwhile, Alonzo Harris broke from third to home to score the game's first run. Two singles and two walks yielded the other two runs in the inning.
Both teams put zeros on the board until an explosion of runs in the bottom of the 4th. Alonzo Harris hit a three-run homer and McGee issued back to back walks forcing RailCats manager Greg Tagert to go to his bullpen. Kevin Osaki stepped on the mound but the runs kept coming via a Nate Hanson three-run home run. Osaki got Tony Thomas to fly out to end the fourth
Tillman Pugh answered with a solo home run in the top of the fifth. A myriad of RailCat singles pushed across three more runs in the inning to make the score 9-4.
The walk bit the Cats again in the bottom of the fifth when a couple walks set up an RBI single from Harris.
Elbert Devarie knocked in Jose Gonzalez in the eighth to score the game's final run. The RailCats stranded three runners in that inning.
Standouts for the RailCats included Gonzalez and Jeremy Hamilton who each had two hits in the game. Reliever Manny Arciniega continued his hot series by retiring the Saints in order in the two innings he pitched.
The RailCats stay on the road but head south to face the Sioux City Explorers (0-4) in hopes of getting their first win of the season. The series starts Monday May 23rd at 7:00 with your pre-game coverage beginning at 6:35 on 95.9 WEFM and online at americanassociationbaseball.tv.
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- Canaries Look to Continue Hot Start in Tonight's "Battle of the Unbeatens" - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Hur Named Player of the Week - AA
- Mirowski Named Pitcher of the Week - AA
- Canaries Earn Series Sweep After 6-2 Win on Sunday - Sioux Falls Canaries
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Saints Capitalize on Early Miscues and Sweep RailCats - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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